Backart Labs Rhumba Extreme version 1.4 Linestage Tubed Preamplifier

Backert seems a solid chase.  I’ve no experience with them, however would agree with previous poster regarding power conditioning.  For years ran Furman, then substantially upgraded to Decware power conditioner.  Convinced!  Now Puritan Labs 156 and really done.

Dirty power abounds and is mostly not accounted for sonically until it’s no longer there.  Everything improves when done correctly.  Best of luck.  Ciao

I own a Rhumba Extreme 1.3 and ran it for a few years with a Pass XA30.8 which I still have. These fed into a pair of Audio Note AN-K spe speakers which some would argue are too small for 12x26 room. The room is sectioned with a sofa and I sit off center to the right. It had been a great combination but I wanted to try a tube amp without breaking the bank while still holding on to the Pass. So Aric and I went back and forth on a custom build for an EL-84 two channel amp which is configured as a single-ended pentode. What I was looking for, and what I found was more detail in the midrange at lower volume levels. I found levels would roll off more than I liked with the Pass. Based on my listening experiences, assuming you're keeping the Pass would be to go with Aric's preamp.

@pbecker128 I have nit heard the highly respected Backert preamp.  However, I currently have the Aric Audio Motherlode XL in my refernce system.  That is one helluva clean sounding, spacious delicate preamp with beautiful tone colors and a touch ot tube sparkle.  I have run it prevously with the Pass Labs 250.5 amplifier with great results.  

@pbecker128  Here’s an interesting thread that includes the very experienced and knowledgeable guys who designed it that you might find interesting — I sure did.  It’s impressive the lengths they went to in both the design and choosing the parts they did and why.  It just exudes bespoke quality and end-game preamp level to me.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/spatial-audio-raven-preamp?highlight=Spatial%2BRaven%2B

Thanks Soux. The Raven looks really interesting.

@pbecker128  If you’re looking at those excellent preamps you should definitely also put the Spatial Audio Raven on your list.  Like the others they offer a trial period, and it’s actually a little cheaper if that matters. 

https://www.spatialaudiolab.com/raven-preamplifier

I’ve actually been hesitating between a Rhythm Extreme 1.4 and an Aric Motherlode XL. I have a Passlabs amp. Has anyone hsd the chance to compare those two preamps?

@dougthebiker , didn't want to hijack the preamp discussion so sent you a PM on the clean power issue you commented on.

Robert

@njcardave , sent you a PM re: your setup. Thanks,

Robert

@traubr , I went through two years of major annoyance switching components to get rid of brightness/harshness, then on a lark, I replaced my 30 year-old power conditioner and mish mash of power cords with modern stuff (Kubala-Sosna in my case.)

I realized it had never been my components at all, just dirty power.  I can put a cheap 25 year old Sony receiver in my system now and it sounds sweet and musical.

Get off the component change train.  It never ends because components usually are not the problem, IMHO.

Looks like a well thought out design.  Two quick things, 1) you have to like the 12au7 tube sound and 2) the toroidal transformer does not always equal the best sound but they are very good indeed.

We manufacturer a 6SN7 preamp for around the same price as the extreme but we use the best parts that we have heard (our opinion & experience) and we are point-to-point wired.

For those who recommended the Quickie - it is very good for the price but does not compare if you are looking for the best sonics.

Happy Listening. 

Looks like we're back to the GMT time stamp.

The Quicksilver is akin to the pre the OP is wants to move away from. Enjoy your eggs.

Quicksilver's tubed line stage preamp is 1495.00. Use the extra 7 grand to buy some eggs.

https://quicksilveraudio.com/products/line-stage-preamp/

I own the Backert Labs Rhythm 1.3 . It replaced a McIntosh C47. The first thing that I noticed was how the bass notes coming from my Focal Sopra 2’s had a different sound. Much deeper and realistic. Please audition one in your system. You can get a loaner for a trial period. Hearing is believing. 

Base on my 6+ years experience with the Backert Labs Rhumba, I will say that you will be thrilled with either the Rhumba, Extreme or the Rhythm. Of course, as you go up the chain, it gets better. I have never heard people being disappointed by Backert preamps.

My focus is on home theatre, then two years ago I added a separate two-channel path for music with a streamer, DAC and preamp.  One of the stops along the way included the Backert Rhumba Extreme v1.4, which replaced a PS Audio BHK preamp.  As good as the BHK was, Backert was an eye-opener, and better.  It pulled me into the music, which had so much more presence and body; it was alive.  Ninety-five percent of the time, it was great.  I've struggled with a touch of brightness in my system and some favorite recordings with horns, cymbals and some female vocals were just a bit much.  Alas, the remaining 5% took over, so I sold the Extreme.

Once sold, I thought I had improved my system with its replacement, but in hindsight I really missed what Backert brought to the table.  Joni says, "Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you got till it's gone."  I made a mistake which had to be corrected.  Along the way, I upgraded my streamer and DAC to better address system deficiencies and bring the brightness under control (room treatments would be great but the listening area is a shared space and my wife will have none of it).  I was eager to bring another Extreme into my world, but to my good fortune found Backert's top of the line Rhythm available on the used market.  As good as Extreme was, Rhythm is better: smoother, cleaner and more refined (and yeah, for $4K more, it should be).

I don't have a turntable and can't speak to how the preamp performs with one.  The 12AU7 tubes supplied with the units are hand picked, and experimenting with different tubes helped tailor the sound to my preference.  The simple remote is audio jewelry and feels great in the hand.  In my somewhat limited two-channel experience, I am very happy to have found Backert Labs and their preamps.  Feel free to reach out, if I can help.

Robert